Apparatus for integrating variable quantities



NGVn 15, 1938. H, DALLMANN 2,137,133

APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATING VARIABLE QUANTITIES Filel June 18I 1954 Herbert; lallm Tm,Y

Hi Attovneg.

Patented Nov..l l5, 1938 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATING VARIABLE QUANTITIES Herbert Dallmann, Berlin-Karlshorst, Germany,

assigner to General Electric Company, acorporaticn of New York Application June 178, 1934, Serial No. 731,152 In Germany June 28, 1933 14 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for integrating variable quantities and concerns particularly methods and apparatus for integrating the product of two variable quantities.

It is an object of my invention to provide a heat quantity meter adapted to register the quantity of heat supplied to a moving heat-absorbing substance, for example water in response to the rate of ilow of such substance and the temperature or the temperature rise ci the substance.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an electrical arrangement for multiplying and integrating two variable quantities which shall be independent of variations in voltage of an auxiliary ,source of current-utilized to energize the apparatus.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved form oi impulse telemeter. It is also an object of my invention to provide an arrangement for obtaining compensation for voltage variations in electric measuring apparatus including telemeters of the impulse type.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In accordance with my invention in its preferred form, I utilize a resistance bridge of the Whcatstone type in which the resistances of one y measurement of heat quantity is obtained by means of an ampere-hour meter connected'in the cross-circuit of the Wheatstone bridge.

The features of my invention which I believe to be novel and patentable will be pointed out in the claims appended hereto. For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. -1 is a circuit diagram illustrating one embodiment ot my invention; Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment oi my invention; and Fig. 3 is agraph illustrating the principle of operation of my invention. 'f

Referring now more in detail to the drawing in which like reference characters are utilized to designate like parts throughout, in the arrangement of Fig. 1, I provide a Wheatstone bridge I (Cl. 'i3- 193) variations in one of the quantities to be multi- 1b plied, for example, the temperature or the temperature rise of a heat-absorbing substance in which heat quantity is to be measured.

If desired, one of the arms, such as the arm 2,

may be arranged to vary in resistance in accordl5 ance with the variations in temperature oi the incoming heat-absorbing substance, such as water in a hot-water heating system, and'another arm 3 maybe arranged to have its resistance vary ln accordance with variations in temperature of the outgoing heat-absorbing substance, such as the water in a hot-water heating system. Ii' desired, of course, either arm 2 or 3 may be arranged to vary in resistance in accordance with temperature change instead of temperature of the heat-absorbing substance and the otherarm couldthen be of constant resistance. Likewise, ii the total heat quantity is to be measured instead of heat supplied to or withdrawn from the heat-absorbing substance, then only one of the arms would be made variable and its resistance would be made proportional to the temperature of the heat-absorbing substance. The variation in resistance oi the bridge arms may take place in any desired manner as by means of a variable contact moved by a temperature-responsive device, or the resistance material itself may be subjected to the variable temperature and its resistance caused to vary in ccnsequence of the effect of temperature on the re 40 sistance oi an electrical conducting material, such that the current through meterg i varies with the temperature relation under investigation.

The bridge i is supplied with ycurrent by a source 'i in a circuit connected between the com-- mon terminal of arms 2 and 3 and the common terminal of armsl and l. v

A rotating contact or current shifter 9 is provided which operates at a rate proportional to connected, for example, to a water meter in a hot-Water heating system. The circuit of the supply source 'i also includes an ampere-hour meter i8 driving e rotating contact il to form a current quantity relay. A pair of brushes is pro- 5 vided for each of the rotating contacts t* and il and these are joined by a pair of conductors .'i providing alternative current patties for the ci rent-supply circuit.

The rotating Contact or current shifter i com l0 sists of a disc, approximately t1di of which conducting and the otirer neit c1 nich is noncenducting so that connection of current source alternately shifted "rom one ei the alternative conductors il to the stile" es the 6e l5 vice i) rotate". 'The rotating' Contact ii consists disc of conducting meteriai 3135;

. se te.

1 r. u' lg clusters il,

ege or" source 75 through t'ne rlcyed to advantage.

tile voltage windings `ere preferably connected to the commen voltage source in order that any exsting temperature errors of the current quantity relay Il or the 'neat quantity meter 8 will be elim- 75 time t: and, during this period, a current ic flows.

'At time ti', e. connection is made to the lower conductor 2l and current cws until it is interrupted at time tn'. However, if now the heatebsorbing material ows et e slower rate, caus- 5 ing Contact 9 to rotate more slowly, the current shifter 8 will not make the succeeding contacts 'until the times i4 and ti'. The average current falls from I5 to Ic es the rate of fiow of the neat absorbing material decreases. The ratio of the Il) average current I5 or I@ to the instantaneous current in varies in response to variations in the rate of SOW of the lieat--elcserning medium,

In case the voltage of the source S increases, assuming tire originel speed of rotation ci cen- 1u tact 9, the cirrent will also increase from the value in to e. greater velue, sncli es ii. Eer/ever, the current will te clit et the time cure "sent efdsntiizy`iA il meter l5 or cur nt quen constant quantities ef elel tricity flowing tlireugl'i n i3 or the average veine M. sy the variation 'vel similar manner, either? t5 current 'iom'ng in e 'tir en inereesed voi ci; more quie re-i1ctir z ssdrce 1.

'ince the total nnreber o blc 'sowing through tire entre 7 mls upon the number ie apparaten i;

omging conteeU ris their iorine L s.tthour er ceri-ent met In, using sttuhour meters,

animas-Yr However, to facilitate the understanding of myl invention the operation thereof will be explained in connection with a numerical example.

Let it be assumed that the rate of flow of the heating medium is such that the current shifter 9 maintains connection between it and the current interrupter I I for a period of 40 seconds and breaks vthe connection for a period of 60 seconds, that the resistance of the entire circuit varies between 100 and 200 ohms as a result of variations in 'the resistors 2 and 3 produced by temperature changes and that the electromotive force of the taken place.

`current source 'I fluctuates between 4 and 3 volts,

while the integrating meter I9 has such an electrical constant as to rotate the Contact I I through an angle of 180 degrees in 30 seconds when 15 milliamperes are flowing.

In a period of 100 seconds during which a complete revolution of the current shifter 9 takes place. assuming the condition when the current source I has an electromotive force of three volts. and the entire resistance oi' the circuit is 100.

ohms the following events will occur:

At the time zero the current shifter 9 closes the connection between the current source 'I and the upper conductor 2Ia of the pair of conductors 2| (see Figure 1) and the contact arrangement II is in such a position that the circuit is closed through the contact and the upper conductor 2Ia. In consequence, the integrating meter I begins to rotate. Under the conditions oi' voltage and resistance assumed 30 milliamperes iiow. Accordingly, the integrating meter I0 causes the contact I I to interrupt the circuit after 15 seconds, when a rotation of 180 degrees has After 40 seconds the current shifter 9 disconnects the current source, and after 50 seconds the current shifter 9 transfers the connection to the lower conductor 2lb so that the integrating meter I0 runs again until 65 seconds have elapsed, the times in each case being measured from zero. Thereupon the contact I I breaks the circuit again. For a period of twice 15 seconds a current of 30 milliamperes has flowed in the bridge.

If one assumes an electromotive force of 4 volts and an overall resistance of 100 ohms a current ofV 40 milliamperes ows in the bridge for a period of twice 11.25 seconds.

Assuming an electromotive force of 3 volts and an overall resistance oi' 200 ohms a current oi 15 milliamperes flows in the bridge for a period of twice 30 seconds.

Assuming an electromotive force of 4 volts and an overall resistance of 200 ohms a current ofk 20 milliamp'eres flows in the bridge for a period of twice 22.5 seconds.

It is consequently immaterial what electromotive force exists in the circuit or how large the resistance is since, as thecaiculation will show, the current quantity which has ilowed in the bridge during a period of 100 seconds is 900 milliarnpere-seconds in any case. If the speed of the transmitter driving the currentI shifter 9 is greater or less than assumed in the example, the time required for the meter i9 to make a complete revolutionwill be correspondinglydecreased or increased.

In the arrangement of Fig. 2, the bridge consists of lower arms I5 and I5 having fixed resistances and upper arms I3 and Id formed by two portions of a resistor of fixed resistance. A temperature indicator Il of any desired type is provided, which actuates a movable contact I8 adapted to make contact intermittently with a point on the resistor forming the arms I3 and I 4 depending upon the temperature indicated by indicator I'I. A chopper bar I9 is provided for bringing movable contact I8 in contact with the resistor and a coil 2i! connectedrimsarigs with source 'I is provided for actuating'the chopper bar I9 when current is iiowing.

It will be apparent that, in the arrangement of Fig. 2. blocks of current will also be passed through ampere-hour meter IIin dependence upon the quantity of heat-absorbing substance flowing in the system and that variations in voltage of the source IlI will be compensated for by variations in the length of time current is permitted to flow during each current-conducting interval. During non-conducting intervals, the chopper bar I9 is released and movable contact I8 is permitted to adopt a new position, in case of f variations in temperature. The current flowing in ampere-hour meter Gis thereby adjusted intermittently in vorder to provide a measurement of the total heat quantity or the product of temperature rise times quantity of heat-absorbing material.

It will be seen thatan incorrect registration cannot be caused by the stoppage of the contact device 9 since the quantity relay Il) brings about automatic interruption of the current circuit'.

I have herein shown and particularly described certain embodiments of my invention and certain methods of operation embraced therein for the purpose of explaining its principle and showing nation with a source of current, a resistance bridge supplied by said current source, an ampere-hour meter in series with said current supply, a pair of conductors interposed in the circuit of said current-supply to provide alternative current paths therebetween, a current shifter driven at a rateprportional to the rate of ilow of a moving heat-absorbing substance in which heat quantity is to be measured and adapted alternately to transfer the circuit connection fromone of said conductors to the other, and a current interrupter driven by said ampere-hour meter and adapted to interrupt the current in said conductors alternately whenever a predetermined quantity ci electricity has flowed through said ampere-hour meter, said resistance bridge comprising resistance arms connected in series-parallel and a cross-circuit including a second amperehour meter serving to measure a heat quantity of the moving substance, said bridge arms including a resistance variable in accordance with temperature change in the heat-absorbing substance.

2. A heat quantity meter comprising in combination with a current supply source, an impedance bridge supplied by said current so roe, an combination with a source of supply current, a integrating electric meter in. series with seid curcurrent shifter in circuit with said source and rent supply, a peir of conductors interposed the driven at a rate proportional to the magnitude of circuit of said current supply to provide alternaan indication to be transmitted, a pair of conductive current petlis between source f. said tors cooperating with said current shifter, adapted integrating meter, a current shift-er dri .e to provide alternate current paths and extending rate proportional to the rete o to the remote point to which indications are to absorbing substance be transmitted, and a third conductor extending, be measured and adepte to said remote point, an integrating electric meter l connection baci; and l located at said remote point and driving a current l0 interrupter, said current shifter having a contact alternately connected to one or the other of said rst two conductors at one end and said current to interru' e inea quantity interrupter having a Contact intermittently discurrent, s.. ci bridge comprising impedance arms connected from said first two conductors alterl5 in parallei circuits, and e cross-circuit including; mately at their other end, but otherwise connected a second integrating electric meter serving to both of said conductors, said third conductor measure a neet eucntity of 'the flowing substance. being Connected t0 DIOVde return electrical Cil'- onc ci sale? arms having en impedance cuit through Said Current nerlupter, Said inte* 2o variable accordance with Variations terngrating 818cm@meter'MMSHKSHDDYSOUYCBJH 20 pereture in the beat-absorbing substance. S'ii Current ntelrllilter being driven by Said n- 3. .fin integrating product meter comprising in u'glang meter i0 interrupt the Current in either combination with a current supply source, an imo said conductors each time said integrating m8- pedance bridge supplied by seid current source, ter has measured e predetermined quantity of a current quantity relay in series ith said eurcurrent, whereby the registration of said meter is 2r rent supply, e Deir of conductors interposed in mme dependent 119011 the number Of Operations the Circuit 0i 59M; aufregt Supply t@ 555mm@ im of seid current shifter and independent of variaternative current peths between said source and GGHS in vlilag@ G Said Current Supplysaid relay, a current shifter driven at rete fprcfm impulse CUII'GD 759161381381' ,COmDISrlg a portional to one of two quantities to oe muitipiied pa? 0f COHCUCGIS adi'td J0 DIOVide alternate 'i0 and adapted to, transfer the circuit connection current paths and x'endn between 2 transmitba .,r and forth between said conductors, and a iP-g IJGH? and a feeivl'l DH, a return path Current interrupt-,eg driven bv Sai@ sufren@ quan- COIluCOI ELSO extending biweii Said transmittity relay and adapted to nterruot the current till@ P-H rvillg DOD'US, Si SGUTCG 0f Clllrcnt CGH 3e in either of said conductors each ti.

mined quen/ity @i electricity has j. en integrating meter at said receiving point also Said gum-en@ quam-iw yegy, ser@ b comprisn connected in series with said return peth coninfT impedance arms in pereilel r-f-Uit57 ail-. ,EL d eter, circuit-eln'tinmeons at the transmitcross-circuit meiuing an @13C-ric f 1; point for rilternately cer-` eting t'ne conduco? sato oeir to the tra: tter eno". or? said the product of one or" variable in to provide supply ani s Cir other et.

inn; one of Le l said. bridge e varyin no: Y- c quantities, t rent between cio qareilel circoli' circuit in dependence uperrvcriet i mon point of the impedences in the other series ference between seid latter two quantities. x 'cs r, at least one of said arms having an im- 5. en inigiulse teieineter com s'n :zo cadence adapted to be varied in. dependence upon 75 ter connected bet-Ween the common point of tile impedences in one series peir and the comnected in series with said return path conductor,

the magnitude of the second of the quantities to be multiplied, thereby varying the distribution of current between the parallel circuits and the cross-circuit of said bridge in response to variations in the second of said quantities and making the registration of said integrating electric meter dependent upon the time integral of the product of the multiplied quantities.

8. In an impulse current telemeter, means for producing and transmitting current impulses at a rate dependent upon the magnitude of a measurement to be transmitted, an integrating meter energized by said impulses to register the total quantity of electricity transmitted, and means having contacts in series with said integrating meter and driven by said integrating meter for interrupting each of such current impulses through said meter when a predetermined quantity of electricity has been transmitted during the impulse, thereby making the registration of said integrating meter dependent upon the total number of impulses received and independent of the magnitude of the currents during said impulses the current magnitude of the impulses and the constant of said integrating meter and interrupting means being such as to cause current interruption to take place within the time duration of impulses corresponding to the impulse rate representing the greatest measurement magnitude to be transmitted.

9. In a heat quantity measuring system, an electric measuring circuit including a temperature responsive impedance bridge in Wheatstone form with a cross circuit and with a pair of current supply terminals connected in the said measuring circuit, a source ofcurrent connected to said measuring circuit, flow-responsive circuit control means connected to said source for energizing said circuit from said source at intervals the frequency of which is proportional to a rate of iiow, circuit control means connected to said first circuit control means and to said measuring circuit for deenergizing said measuring circuit each time it is energized after a period of time inversely proportional to the voltage of said source, and an integrating electric meter connected in the cross circuit of said bridge.

1G. In a system for measuring the product of two quantities, an electric measuring circuit having branched paths in a portion thereof, a source of current being included in the circuit, circuit control means also included in the circuit for intermittently maintaining said source connected to the remainder of said circuit at intervals dependentupon one of said quantities and for periods of time which are inversely proportionalv to the voltage of said source. an electric integrating meter connected as a cross circuit between Intermediate points in the branched paths of said measuring circuit, and means for diverting current from one of said branched paths to the other through said cross circuit in proportion to the other of said quantities, when the measuring circuit is energized.

11. A device for integrating the heat transfer effected by aiiowing medium entering a heat v current source to cause ow of current therethrough, means for passing the difference between said currents through said meter, circuit interrupting and connecting means in series with said current source, and flow-responsive means in operative relation with said circuit interrupting and connecting means for varying the relative periods of connection and interruption of said circuit interrupting and connecting means in response to variation in rate of flow.

12. A device for integrating the heat content of a flowing heat absorbing medium comprising in combination, an integrating electric meter, temperature-responsive current-control means, a source of current in circuit with said meter and said current-control means, circuit interrupting and connecting means, and a current-integrating unit in series with said current source, said circuit interrupting and connecting means having a vmovable connecting contact and a movable interrupting contact and stationary contacts cooperating therewith, flow-responsive means driving said circuit-connecting contact with a frequency proportional to rate of ow, said current-integrating unit having an ampere-hour responsive movable element' connected to said circuit-interrupting contact to open the circuit after each passage of a predetermined number of ampere-hours.

13. A device for integrating the product of two quantities comprising in combination, an integrating electric meter, current control means responsive to variations in one Iof the quantities, a source of current in circuit with said meter and said current control' means, current interrupting and connectingv means and a current-integrating unit in series with said current source, said current interrupting and connecting means having a movable connecting contact and a movable interrupting contact and stationary contacts cooperating therewith, means responsive to variations in the other of the quantities driving said circuitconnecting contact with a frequency proportional to the magnitude of said other quantity, said current-integrating unit having an ampere-hourresponsive movable element connected to said circuit-interrupting contact to open the circuit after each passage of a predetermined number of ampere-hours.

14. A device for measuring the product oi' two quantities comprising a. source oi' current, a main circuit connectedv thereto, said main circuit including a portion divided into a plurality of branches, one of which includes current-control means extendingto an intermediate portion oi' the branch in which it is included, a cross circuit including an electric meter for showing the magnitude of the product and connected between intermediate points oi' two oi said branches, said main circuit also including circuit interrupting and connecting means for alternately opening and closing the main circuit to produce current impulses therein, said circuit interrupting and oonnecting means including means for terminating each current impulse after a predetermined quantity of electricity has passed therein and means for intermittently closing the circuit to produce impulses with a frequency proportional to the magnitude of one of the quantities, said currentcontrol means in the branch portion ofthe circuit being responsive to the variations in the other of the quantities to divert current from one branch to the other through the cross circuit in response to variations in said other quantity. T DAILMANN. 

